Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Do you want to host the Florida state wrestling tournament?
All you have to do is head over to the Florida High School Association's website, fill out a 31-page form and return it to the FHSAA by Friday, Aug. 15.
The association is looking for a host for the next three years after The Lakeland Center served that capacity from 1993-95 before reclaiming hosting duties in 1998.
So what exactly is the FHSAA looking for?
Applicants have to answer questions regarding available lodging in the area, plans for marketing and promoting event and about the site's food and beverage concessions, security and safety codes.
The facility cannot charge the FHSAA fees for use of power or lighting, and the host must provide, at its own expense, a public-address announcer, head table personnel, volunteer coordinators, awards coordinators, table workers for each mat, attendants for locker rooms and officials, eight certified trainers, an EMT or physician, security and media assistants to help run off copies.
The host must also, at its own expense, provide two meals per day to credentialed members of the event (an estimated 150 people per day) and have snacks and beverages readily available throughout.
Parking is also crucial, as the facility must have at least 40 reserved spots. According to the FHSAA, last year's total attendance for the two-day event was 13,726, a number that also includes coaches, wrestlers, team personnel, media and others who used to credentials to enter the arena and didn't have to purchase a ticket.
The paid attendance was 10,879. Admission was $9 per person.
What does the FHSAA provide? Compensation and expenses for officials, state championship trophies and medallions, a "memento" for all who participate (coaches, wrestlers, officials), souvenir programs (if printed) and merchandise, promotional materials including decals, signs and flyers bearing the FHSAA logo, Gatorade coolers and cups and credentials.
In exchange, the host facility retains parking fees, sales from concessions, government and tourist development grants and agreements with sponsors.
So that's about does it. The state wrestling tournament is scheduled for March 6 and 7, the FHSAA plans on announcing its host no later than Oct. 1.
And in case you were wondering, the state wrestling tournament came to the area once: 1988 at the Manatee Civic Center.

Manatee's 113-pounder, Caleb Rudisill, cruised to a first-round victory this morning at The Lakeland Center. Here are the local resu...

About this blog

Prep Rally is all about high school sports in Manatee County. From baseball to basketball, softball to soccer, volleyball to track, swimming to wrestling and weightlifting, if they play it, you can read about it at Prep Rally.

The author, John Lembo, has covered prep sports for the Bradenton Herald since 2005.